The Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 Coming Soon
By Richard Thomas
Beam Suntory announced today that the 2016 edition of their Suntory Yamazaki Sherry Cask Japanese Single Malt would be released on February 1st.
The Yamazaki Sherry Cask is a staple expression among the brands premium expressions, and it was the 2013 Yamazaki Sherry Cask that helped consolidate Japanese whisky’s move into the popular spotlight when Whisky Bible author Jim Murray named it the “World Whisky Of The Year” in 2015.
The creation of The Yamazaki Sherry Cask starts with Suntory’s Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo visiting the Northern region of Spain himself to select the oak for the sherry casks. This attention to detail is not uncommon among whisky-makers, although the difference between flying to Spain from Japan versus Scotland or Ireland is certainly noteworthy. From there the wood is made into casks, used to age sherry for three years, and only then brought to Japan for use as first-fill sherry casks.
In this instance, Fukuyo has indicated The Yamazaki Sherry Cask is intended for Suntory Whisky diehards, not novices or the curious.
The 2016 Yamazaki Sherry Cask Single Malt is bottled at 48% abv in a 5,000 bottle production run, and will retail for $300